A long-simmering patent dispute involving Google and some of its key rivals could finally be over. Today's deal transfers the former Nortel patents to a syndicate of 30 members and comes on the heels of a settlement in a patent infringement lawsuit last month.

CNET News.com's Michael Kanellos checks out the Ocean Tomo SpringIP Patent auction in San Francisco, where buyers snapped up $19.6million worth of patents. While critics say these patents will fuellawsuits, inventors say it's a good way to get recognition for the workthey've done.

CNET News.com's Michael Kanellos asks Nathan Myhrvold, CEO and founder of Intellectual Ventures, on his status as a scary figure to some Silicon Valley companies. Myhrvold explains his ideas on patents.